A tribute to the people lost in 1968.

In April when our summer escapes

The last sun hits the Marlborough grapes

It sweetens the wine for the season

But way back in Sixty Eight

Black skies congregate

And the weather changes for no reason

The near-new Wahine

was grand

With people and freight as its daily load

Linking the halves

of New Zealand

It was like a moving road.

Sail on Wahine

Take us home

Sail on Wahine

Take us home

As the skies set into

to a steely grey hue

The captain viewed the waves breaking on his deck

On the good ship Wahine no person knew

700 passengers and crew

Were headed for a wreck

Sail on Wahine

Take us home

Sail on Wahine

Take us home

On the day that they drowned the poor fifty three

Never knew it was an impossibility

A cyclone from the north

Met another storm from the south

The Wahine was in trouble at noon

within sight of land

Near the homely shore of Seatoun

But the ship was breached

on Barretts reef

And the captain shouted out “Abandon! “

Some got to shore with the locals help

Others were rescued in boats

For fifty three the land, they could see

But with no helping hand

They never made it home

Wahine take me home

Wahine take me home

take me home

Sail on Wahine

Take us home

Sail on Wahine

Take us home.

——-

Copyright: Rod. de Lisle